The Better Half(99)
Best to you and your family,
Carmel Burns
Roan, that softie! In our own ways, none of us could let the Burns twins fall through the cracks after Winn’s spring power play with Dontrelle’s and Marcus’s lives.
Morgan and I were released from the hospital on a Sunday afternoon. Given his concern about driving us home in traffic, a lazy Sunday was the best day for Leo’s maiden voyage transporting his son. Once we had gone a few blocks from the hospital and Leo was gaining confidence, I asked if we could make a stop before we made it home. Leo looked at me like I had two heads and one was spouting nonsense, but he relented seeing as I had just delivered him an heir.
I couldn’t get past the fact that I hadn’t been able to send Carmel Burns my email ahead of the Royal-Hawkins admissions decisions going out to families. I knew my laptop was sitting on my desk, email open, one draft waiting to be sent. I only needed five minutes in my office to tidy up my old life before I could fully invest in my new one.
Although Leo was initially terrified to be left alone with Morgan, I promised him our son would not combust without his mother. Leo had me check that my phone was on and charged just in case he spotted flames. My office was as I had left it. A cold half cup of coffee and an empty sandwich wrapper had been keeping each other company on my desk. The throw pillows on my couch were stacked to one side, exposing the catnap I had had to take before the board meeting four short days ago. My laptop was on my desk, but the top was closed instead of open. On it was a neon pink Post-it.
Email sent. You’re welcome. Now stop worrying about work. XO Roan
Roan Dawson, for the game-day save.
I still had four more minutes before Leo would strong-arm the police into putting out a missing mother’s report. I opened my laptop and let my fingers fly before my brain caught up to consider if what I was about to send was a good idea or not.
FROM: Nina Morgan Clarke
DATE: April 6
SUBJECT: Burns Twins
TO: Courtney Dunn
Dear Courtney,
Thanks again for the hospital transport. Not that I deserve any more favors, you’ve done more than your fair share for me, but if you’re still trying to Robin Hood Geoff’s money, I have an idea that I think will help remedy the disaster that was Winn’s meddling. Would you be willing to sponsor Jared Jones mentoring Marcus and Dontrelle Burns over the summer?
Thank you for considering.
Yours in community,
Nina Morgan Clarke
Head of School
Royal-Hawkins School
Before I could close my laptop, Courtney was in my inbox.
FROM: Courtney Dunn
DATE: April 6
SUBJECT: Burns Twins
TO: Nina Morgan Clarke
Done and Dunn!
Jai,
Courtney
Victory is right. Turns out Courtney Dunn is more of a strategic thinker than I had given her credit for, and my school will be a better place because of it. Winn’s motives were way off, but I’m willing to give credit where credit’s due. He did all right strong-arming Courtney onto the board of trustees.
Nina 2:46 PM
I promise the baby won’t break. Xandra’s still intact as evidence. I need ten more minutes.
Leo 2:47 PM
Morgan started to cry so I took him out of the car seat, reclined my seat back and put him on my chest. He stopped crying! But now we can’t move so take your time.
I opened the cabinet behind my desk, and a lonely bag of corn dippers was waiting for me, knowing I’d be back. I pulled them out and ripped ’em open. The taste of the familiar, in familiar surroundings, when so much had changed so quickly was grounding. Before I left my castle to become an indentured servant to my new little king, I knew I had one last email to send out as queen.
FROM: Nina Morgan Clarke
DATE: April 6
SUBJECT: Your service
TO: Winn Hawkins
Dear Winn,
Thank you for your service as the Board Chair of the Royal-Hawkins School. Your tenure has not benefited the school in ways befitting a respectable leader. Effective immediately, you have been removed from the board of trustees. Courtney Dunn will be stepping into the chair leadership position when the board resumes meeting on August 1.
Nina Morgan Clarke
Head of School
Royal-Hawkins School
My apologies, Alice Royal-Hawkins. I closed my laptop and hoped Courtney would agree to chair since vice chair Kym Lee was moving to Baltimore, but I had already asked one favor of her today, so this one would have to wait for another day. It was time for me to go home and be with my family for the next four months.
“Look who I found in the hallway, Nina.” Jared completely fills out my doorway with my sixteen-year-old daughter tucked under his arm. Xandra looks like she just discovered that heaven comes in a six-foot-four frame. I hop up, almost tripping over Morgan’s baby bucket, to dislodge Xandra from her never-going-to-happen fantasy.
“I didn’t know you had a daughter,” Jared says, suggesting we are friends and I’ve withheld important information from him, rather than a boss and a young man teetering close to the edge of unemployment.
“She was at boarding school last year, but now she’s back for summer. Actually, back for good.” I give Xandra a squeeze around the waist that says I’m glad you’re back and I’ve got my eye on you.
“So, you’re going to go to school with your mom?” Jared chuckles. “That’s a trip.”